Woman Murdered in Grenade Attack on Sweet Shop in Northern Israel

Lina Qasem, a 51-year-old mother of five from Daliyat al-Karmel, was killed when a grenade was thrown at a sweet shop in the village of Kafr Mandi. Her brother-in-law, Ahmed, described the family's plans to celebrate her granddaughter's second birthday, a celebration that was tragically cut short by the attack. Qasem had been visiting her parents in Kafr Mandi and was collecting a cake she had ordered when the incident occurred. Three other people were injured in the blast.

Security camera footage shows a woman near a parked car as vehicles pass by. Moments later, an explosion and smoke are seen rising from the sidewalk area. The street appears busy with traffic and pedestrians during daylight hours. Ahmed described the incident as "real terror," emphasizing the severity of throwing a grenade into a public area with people around.

Ahmed expressed frustration with the ongoing violence, stating that frequent reports of fatalities have become normalized until the tragedy struck his own family. He lamented that authorities have not listened to their pleas for action against crime for years. Despite his pain, he hopes decision-makers will act to stop the killings, noting the recurring use of firearms and grenades and the continued loss of loved ones in other families.

The police investigation into the murder is ongoing. On November 15, 2026, the Nazareth Magistrate's Court extended the detention of four suspects until November 22. The suspects, residents of Ilut, Reineh, and Zarzir, were arrested and interrogated by the Northern District's Central Unit. Authorities are investigating whether the grenade attack is linked to an extortion attempt, as the business had reportedly been targeted previously.